Grandparents Day , September 10th 2023

Grandparents are needed today more than ever; not only to support fatigued parents, but also to be trusted allies who provide a much-needed sense of stability, security and unconditional love to kids.

In many ways, it’s a difficult time to be raising kids. Parents struggle in an unpredictable economy to balance work with family and teach values in an “anything-goes” culture. Kids have many stresses. Hardships at school, violence in the news, negative peer influences, pressure to perform and substance abuse at very young ages. Grandparents are an often overlooked asset for the modern family.

Indeed, grandparents are needed today more than ever. Not only to support fatigued parents, but also to be trusted allies who provide a much-needed sense of stability. They can give security and
unconditional love to kids, whether those kids are 2 years old or 18. Here are a few “first steps” that can help you build strong relationships between your children and their grandparents.

Grandparent Wisdom Each of us has skills we pass on to the next generation. Teaching these skills and introducing our kids to new experiences are key privileges we enjoy as parents. But why not let grandparents be involved in sharing their skills and talents with your kids, too? Learning a skill from a grandparent can have a powerful influence on your children. Little things can build memories.

Passing the Baton  When possible, allow your kids to have the time and space with a grandparent. They can learn how to whistle, or tell time, make cookies, or fix a bicycle tire. Whatever the lesson, kids will remember who they learned it from. How about a grandparent’s hobbies and passions?
Children, especially young children, enjoy doing what grown-ups are doing — they love having a chance to join in. Recently, I’ve encountered several grandparents who use all manner of hobbies and interests to stay connected with their grandkids. From sharing a passion big fan of using the webcam on my smartphone to Skype. I can chat with my grandkids and see their smiling faces and listen to their stories. From sharing a passion for photography or the history of the Civil War, to ongoing lessons in gardening and hospitality — the time spent with grandparents can strengthen relationships and be educational for kids.

Whenever possible, encourage your kids and their grandparents to develop hobbies and interests together. Support those passions by making time for them in daily family life.

Grandparents & Technology Modern technology has helped bridge the distance between kids and grandparents who live in different places. In recent years, I’ve noticed a surge of improvements in
terms of reliability, convenience and ease of use. This allows grandparents to use technology
not just for occasional chats. They can be a regular voice in the lives of their grandkids.
Personally, I’m a

Online and Engaged Parents can harness the power of technology to provide opportunities for their kids to connect with Grandpa and Grandma. Younger kids can chat with grandparents over homework or read stories together over the phone or via Skype or FaceTime. Older kids can share photos through messaging or email and follow each other through social media. Social media, such
as Facebook, helps keep both up to date on what the other is doing. It also helps kids be accountable with their posts when they know their grandparents will be reading them.